Ian Rintoul said the asylum seekers did not want the guards in their camp because they said they were responsible for torturing and abusing them throughout the course of their four-and-a-half-year detention on Manus.

The former Wilson Security guards have been re-employed by a new company, Paladin, which has been contracted to provide security for asylum seekers in three new camps which they had been moved to after being forcibly evicted from the Lombrum detention centre last month.

Refugees on Manus protest against efforts to evict them from Australian run detention centre. Photo: Supplied/Behrouz Boochani

Mr Rintoul said the sentiments expressed by asylum seekers at the Hill Side detention centre were shared by those in the East Lorengau and West House camps.

"Because at the moment it is Hill Side who have said very explicitly that they will not tolerate any Wilson's security guards at the camp. They are happy with the local guards. The local guards have indicated their willingness to co-operate that. They have made it clear to the police. But if they want trouble send the Wilson's guards. If they want things to stay calm then keep the Wilson's guards away from Hill Side," said Ian Rintoul.